The Texas-based rock band Lord Buffalo has been forced to cancel their tour of Europe after Customs and Border Protection agents snatched their drummer off the plane.
According to NBC News, drummer Yamal Said, a Mexican citizen with lawful permanent residency in the United States, was seized by immigration agents without any clear explanation beyond an unspecified warrant for his arrest.
"We are heartbroken to announce we have to cancel our upcoming European tour," wrote the band on their Facebook page. "Our drummer, who is a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States (green card holder) was forcibly removed from our flight to Europe by Customs and Border Patrol at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Monday May 12. He has not been released, and we have been unable to contact him. We are currently working with an immigration lawyer to find out more information and to attempt to secure his release."
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"We are devastated to cancel this tour, but we are focusing all of our energy and resources on Yamal’s safety and freedom," the band continued. "We are hopeful that this is a temporary setback and that it could be safe for us to reschedule this tour in the future."
CBP did not offer any explanation for the arrest, except to tell NBC that Said “was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Monday while attempting to depart the United States due to having an active arrest warrant.”
In recent months, President Donald Trump's administration has kicked immigration actions into high gear, with mass deportations of alleged gang members to a Salvadoran megaprison under an obscure 1798 law, and the sudden arrests of foreign students who participated in protests against Israel.
